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Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Elliot Spitzer Running For Governor In NY
Posted by Tim TagarisA rumble fit for a pay-per-view audience in Madison Square Garden. George Pataki vs. Elliot Spitzer for Governor of New York in 2006. New York's Attorney General made the official announcement today, on his website, that he intends to run for Governor of New York.
"The people's lawyer" has received wide acclaim for going toe to toe with investment banks, pharmaceutical companies, and Wall Street giants. I am not going to pretend to know enough about Spitzer and his legal crusades for justice; I think DavidNYC would be the perfect candidate to write something up about that to educate us all (hint).
From Spitzer's announcement:
I want to fix what's broken. It's what I do best. I bring people together whether they like it or not and we tackle complex problems not with band-aid solutions, but with major reform and real change. We did it in the financial industry and other sectors and we can do it in government. I'll bring new energy and resolve to the task of transforming state government and turning around the state economy.
Today, I am confirming that I intend to run for governor and I have authorized my supporters outside the government to begin preparations for a campaign.
His web page is a great avenue for two-way mass communication with his potential constituents. My hat is tipped to any candidate who has a blog front and center on the main page.
The site's interactivity is tremendous. Along with the blog, there is a message board, citizen endorsement page, and an ability to gain "points" through on-line activism and promotion of the Spitzer campaign.
I am from Chicago -- The city you New Yorkers take your cues from. I can tell you about Governor Blagojevich. The Governor who defied Bush Administration by setting up a website providing access to affordable medicine from Canada, England, Scotland, and Ireland.
But until I learn enough to speak competently on the subject of NY politics, does Spitzer have a shot? Why do you support (or not) Spitzer's candidacy? Are there better Democrats out there for the state? This is obviously a race we will spend some time discussing in the coming months/years.
Posted at 04:13 PM in New York | Technorati
Comments
New Yorker here,
I'd actually be surprised if Pataki ran again. Pataki has served three four year terms and has his eyes on a bigger prize. Elliot Spitzer is a very popular Attorney General and could possibly win the Gubernatorial race in 2006. Spitzer was rumored to be one of John Kerry's candidates for United States Attorney General.
The key will be the 2006 U.S. Senate race with Hillary. Most think that Rudy will run, however I don't think Giuliani will get involved in the NY Governors or Senatorial Race. Basically I think you're looking at a Pataki Vs. Hillary senate matchup and Spitzer facing the GOP candidate for Governor, who I honestly have no clue who would run.
My guess would be Pataki runs for the Senate against Hillary.
As for Spitzer, He's probably the most high profile candidate the Dems could do for NY, which is good enough because I think he'll be a winner in '06.
Posted by: Manny at December 7, 2004 04:35 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment
Are there better Democrats out there for the state?
Heh. No. You're nuts, Tim. Eliot's the man! :)
Posted by: DavidNYC at December 8, 2004 03:00 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment
You're right David, Eliot's a winner.
Posted by: Manny at December 8, 2004 07:35 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment
unless there are some serious skeltons in Spitzer's closet we don't know about, I think he'd wipe the floor with Pataki, despite the fact that NYer's seem to be happy with the pathetic debt-ridden status quo that pretends to govern from Albany.
I agree that the big battle will be Pataki V. Clinton in '06, but given how easily Schumer won in '04, I think Clinton's got the advantage. in 2000 she was a carpetbagger, but she'll have been here for 6 years by the time 2006 rolls around, and she's still pretty popular, although I have no idea why - given her Iraq and patriot act votes, but that certainly didn't hurt Schumer.
Another interesting question in the governor's race will be who do the Greens get to run, and will we get the 50,000 votes necessary to get our ballot line back? There are some folks talking about backing Spitzer, but I doubt most greens would go for that. Maybe we'll get lucky and there will not be much of a republican opponent, and people will feel free to vote green to help out the party.
Posted by: green in brooklyn at December 8, 2004 11:00 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment
In politics, to quote Fats Waller, one never knows, do one? Nevertheless, I have two words on Spitzer for governor.
Shoo-in.
Posted by: PAVoter at December 8, 2004 11:42 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment
Green in Brooklyn --
The hope shouldn't be for a weak republican opponent so people can feel safe voting green, but for an effort at election reform -- maybe instant runoff voting that would allow people to makr their first and second choices on the ballot. I respect third parties, but I think many people like Nader (no longer Green) unfortunately blame the people/parties (Dems and Republicans) rather than our winner-take all plurality-rules electoral rules ... the system is set up to create a two-party system, with high campaign costs and mudslinging -- we need to fix the rules of the game itself rather than focus on the players of that game.
Sptizer sounds
Posted by: Marc at December 8, 2004 02:59 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment
... like a fine candidate and these troubled times may be right for Greens and Dems to get along and realize our common interest in reforming these electoral rules.
Posted by: Marc at December 8, 2004 03:02 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment
Elliot Sptizer is my hero. I have been completely disillusioned by the massive greed exhibted by the leaders of corporate America. I just read about the incredible payouts from Fannie Mae to their fired executives. I think all of corporate America is corrupt. I think the CEO's and CFO's are worse for this country than organized crime. Corruption permeates the entire fabric of large companies. The kings and queens in this country are the CEO's and CFO's of these companies.
Posted by: Elice at December 28, 2004 04:51 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment
I think that Eliot Spitzer offers great promise for progressive politics not only in New York, but nationally as well. Fair or not, it's rare to find a candidate on our side who's succeeded in incorporating the 'fighter' image into his public identity in a natural, honest way. (Think, if you can stand it, of poor ol' JK and his 'reporting for duty' bullshit. - he actually was a fighter but somehow, bathed in so much calculated spin, looked like a silly fraud. enough of that.) As far as Spitzer is concerned this reputation is beyond contest if you just refer to his record - man, he's a total ass-kicker! Consider the battles that Spitzer has pursued in the areas of environmental protection and corporate responsibility alone (not to mention protecting foriegn workers from gross exploitation, and most recently, busting Macy's for racial profiling), and the victories he's nailed down. Some of them are really remarkable, and not only in compensation or justice served, but also in the path that was taken to reach such an end in the first place. I mean, suing out-of-state polluters back in '99 for not complying with the Clean Air Act, to protect our air-quality and health was gutsy as hell, unconventional and so unexpected. We can only gain by having a figure (READ: fighter) of such conviction, standing, and just plain gumption, in the highest public office of one of the most influential States in the Union.
Posted by: Chris at January 17, 2005 01:11 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment
I have a Masters in environmental and occupational health science. I am very interested in volunteering to help Mr Spitzer become govenor of New York. I am willing to do very basic tasks if it will help
Posted by: David Behar at January 17, 2005 10:32 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment